top of page
PrincipeWeaver.jpg

Our purpose

In Sanzala, we believe,

tourism can regenerate

communities.

Our Mission

The Sanzala Foundation is the social impact arm of Sanzala Travels and a proud member of The Long Run community. Our mission is to regenerate the social, cultural and environmental fabric of Príncipe through responsible tourism, circular agro-forestry, and sustainable housing initiatives. Everything we do is guided by the 4Cs: Conservation, Community, Culture, and Commerce, ensuring that travel creates lasting, local impact.

Nature Conservation

What we plan:

To implement pilot agroforests and build using sustainable materials, reinforcing a respectful relationship with the environment in São Tomé.

​

Local Community in Príncipe

What we plan:

To provide dignified housing for local families and train them to host through our "Community Homestay" program.

​

São Toméan Culture

What we plan:

To revitalise old sanzalas as cultural spaces and authentic accommodation that reflects Príncipe’s identity.

​

Commerce in São Tomé

What we plan:

To promote regenerative tourism and local agriculture to create fair incomes, ensuring that at least 80% of the value paid by tourists remains within the community.​

FAQ - Sanzala Initiative

1. What is the Sanzala Initiative?
The Sanzala Initiative is the social-impact foundation behind Sanzala Travels. Inspired by the traditional sanzalas (community villages), it regenerates local livelihoods through responsible tourism, sustainable housing, agroforestry, and cultural heritage preservation.

​

2. What does “Sanzala” mean?
“Sanzala” is an original African term meaning village, community and shared living. It represents the social roots of Príncipe Island: families, tradition, and collective resilience. The foundation uses this concept to rebuild communities from the inside out.

​

3. How does the initiative support local communities?
Co-design projects with families, elders and community councils. Support includes:

  • rebuilding traditional houses (Casas Raiz)

  • creating community homestays

  • launching family-managed agroforestry gardens

  • developing cultural routes, workshops and storytelling programmes

  • supporting artisanal and sustainable fishing practices.

  1. ​

4. What are the 4Cs that guide your work?
We follow the internationally recognised 4Cs model by The Long Run:

  • Conservation:  protecting forests, wildlife and coastal ecosystems

  • Community: building dignified housing, food security and income sources

  • Culture: preserving oral history, cacao traditions, crafts and local knowledge

  • Commerce: ensuring tourism revenue stays within the community through circular economies

 

5. How is tourism connected to regeneration?
With our experiences, every traveller contributes directly to community projects. Through homestays, guided rainforest tours, cacao trails, cultural workshops and locally curated experiences, tourism becomes a vehicle for conservation, livelihood creation and cultural preservation — not extraction.

​

6. What projects are currently active?
The 2024–2026 action plan includes:

  • reconstruction of Casas Raiz for families

  • agroforestry training and the creation of circular family gardens

  • support programmes for sustainable artisanal fishing

  • development of cultural routes (cacao, coffee, vanilla)

  • community workshops with elders and artisans

  • reuse of abandoned sanzalas as cultural and productive spaces

​

7. How does the initiative ensure community ownership?
Through a participatory approach:

  • Local councils + community assemblies + ongoing feedback loops.

  • Families design the projects, lead their implementation and benefit from the results.

Our model is simple: if you support, you belong.

​

8. How does the Sanzala Foundation guarantee transparency?
We are building a digital platform that ensures project traceability, community-led curation, and transparent reporting: from financial contributions to environmental and social impact.

​

9. Is the initiative connected to international sustainability standards?
Yes. The Sanzala Foundation is a member of The Long Run, one of the world’s leading networks for regenerative tourism, guided by the 4Cs framework and long-term conservation commitments.

 

10. How is Sanzala Travels involved?
Sanzala Travels is the travel arm: it creates high-end, low-impact journeys that fund social and environmental programmes managed by the Sanzala Foundation.
Together, they ensure that luxury travel generates real local impact.

bottom of page